Link-mat-assembling machine



June 11, 1929- H. w. HoLLENBEcK LINK MAT ASSEMBLING MACHINE Filed Jan.' 25, 1928 4 sheets-sheet v1 gwughr@ HamZdZIZHOZ/@fzbdr June ll, 1929. Y H w, HOLLENBECK 1,716,378

LINK MAT ASSEMBLING MACHINE Filed Jan. 23, 1928 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 F :Lg/.i-

3mm/doc I Hamid Uffa/z wee/f June 11, 1929. H, w HQLLENBEQK 1,716,378

LINK MAT ASSEMBLING MACHINE Filed Jan. 23, 1928 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 IM/vanto@ Slimme/144.

June 1l, 1929. H. w. HoLLl-:NBECK LINK MAT ASSEMBLING MACHINE Filed Jan. 23, 1928 4 Sheets-#Sheet 4 Patented June l1, 1929.

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HAROLD W. TIOLLENBECK, or KIRKLAND, WASHINGTON, AssIeNOR To DURABLE MAT COMPANY, OF SEATTLE, WASHINGTON, A CORPORATION or WASHINGTON.

LINK-MAT-AssnMBLINe MACHINE.-

Application filed January 23, 1928. Serial No. 248,869.

My invention relates to apparatus which is used to assemble links upon connecting or pivot wires to form mats. lts object is to facilitate such work and to reduce its cost over hand methods.

My invention consists essentially of means for holding in proper spaced relation the wires upon which the links'are assembled, and means whereby the links for a row may be assembled upon a carrier or threading bar and then by suitable movementJ of such bar, be all placed upon the' wires at one time. My invention comprises the said vholding and threading bar and the manner of controlling and operating it.

The accompanying illustrations illustrate my invention embodied in the form which is now employed by me.

Figure l is a plan view of the machine with certain parts broken away or removed to better show parts below. 1

Figure 2 is a side view in which parts of the mechanisms employed in placing the links are in sect-ion.

Figure 3 is a front elevation of a portion ot the width of the machine showing the important working parts.

Figure 4 is av detail assembly of certain o'lf the operating parts, the plane of viewbeing vertical and extending from Jfront to rear.

Figure 5 is a plan view of certain parts employed in reciprocating the link-assem bling and placing bar.

Figure 6 is a vert'cal section of the linkplacing mechanism, similar to that of Figure 4, but with the parts in different position.

Figure 7 a cross-sectional elevation of a hammer mechanism which acts upon the back ends ot the pintle wires to thereby as-A sist in the relative backward movement of the links upon these wires.

The machine illustrated in the accompanying` drawings and herein described has been specifically designed for assembling links y cut from old rubber vtires upon pivot or pintle wires to make nia-ts. It will be herein specilically described as employed for that purpose, although it is to be understood that l am -aware that it may be employed'in doing analogous work upon other materials, and

lthat l claim the same for any use to which itl The specific description of the may be put. f I invention hereinafter given is intended to be merely ,played and manner of use.

illustrative of the principles ein' The operating parts of my machine are shown as mounted in suitable relation upon aframe l, which may be made of any material, shape and character of construction found suitable. Means are employed'for holding the wires 10, upon which the links 1l are assembled, inproper parallel spaced relation. Preferably .the` wires are each-.0f elongated' U-shape, the stems or sides, there-. of being slightly longer than the width of the mat which is being made. i

These rods or wires are held in proper spaced and parallel relation by a bar l2, which contains cross channels into which the bend of the wires drop, and by a suitable holding and-spacing bar 13 which isv transversely grooved to accommodate the wires and engages themnear their ends. The wires are thus held in exact position ina horizontal plane with their free ends projecting to receive thereon the links.

A bar 2 is provided with suitable means for positioning and holding thereon in proper spaced relation a sufficient number of links to form one row across the mat. This relation corresponds with the spacing of the wires l0. rlhe construction chosen JI`or illustration has recesses 2O in the face of the bar of a size and shape to each accommodate a link. I have also shown these recesses as communicating with the outer edge of the bar by a. throat 2l of less width than the length of a link.

It is evident that if a row of links be placed upon this holding orassembling bar, positioned to exactly register with'the positioning of the wires 11, andv the bai be then presented to and advanced upon the wires, the links carried thereon will all be threaded upon the wires at one time. It is, of course, assumed that the links have suitable perforations at each end adapted to receive said wires.

For the purpose'of convenience in placing the links in the recesses of the holding or assembling bar, this is at that time in horizontal position withl its recessed faces up, as is shown in Figures 3 and` 4, or inclined as in Figure 6. rlhis bar is mounted upon va frame 3 which is'carri'ed upon the laterally offset pivot rod 30, these parts being positioned and proportioned so that when rocked clockwise, as shown in Figure 4l, the holes in the linlis will yexactly register-with the ends of fait The tar 2 has holes iter the end of a frame 35, pivotcd at 36..

. 4, lixed'upon a shaft 4l. 4 Y be so proportioned in size that the take up passage of thewires and the movement of Vbar 2 is sulicient to' advance the links a short further advance the previously placed links.`

In a link mat, the links of each row are positioned opposite the spaces of Vthe next adjacent rows. .It is, therefore, necessary to shift the holding or assembling bar 2 lenglhwise between each link-threading movement al distance equal to the pitch length of the links. Therefore, lthe bar 2 has been mounted in guideways 3l carried by the frame 3. The means for causing this intermittent reciprocation will be later descril ed.

The pivot rod30. is mounted to have a horizontal movement toward and from `the machine as by carryingit upon the upper Upon the frame 3 or 35, concentric with and preferably upon'the rod 30, is mounted a pulley or wheel 37, to which is secured one end ol a chain 38, or other equivalentI flexible connecting means. This chain passes over a guide wheel, pulley or gear 39, and is connected with a pin 40 carried by acrank arm These parts should or release of the chain caused by one turn of the shaft 4l will'cause the required angular swing of the frame 3 and the additional horizontal movementof frames 3 and 35 which advances the links upon the wires. l/Vhile the turning` of crank arm 4 .is in one direction only and through a complete circle each time, the turning movement of frame 3 is 90o or less and is followed by a reciprocatinfr movement. Frames 3 and 35 are provided with surfaces engaging as at 32 to limitA the swing of .frame 3. A spring 42 returns frame 35 to its normal position.

The shaft 4l is intermittently driven from a clutch device shownat 5, as through a chainand suitable gears. Associated with the clutch 5 is a gear 5l continuously driven by a worm 52 turned by the motor 53. The clutch is controlled by an arm 54 and isv normally disconnected., so that the parts driven therethrough are stationary.

. A link 55 connects the clutch-controlling arm 54 with a trip arm 56, pivoted upon a ful- Crum bracket 57 which latter is pivoted at 58 (see Figure 3) and is controlled by a rod V47 which extends to a position where it is easily accessible to the operator. The bar or lever 56 has a side extending ear 59 normally f positioned to be in the path of swing of the pin 40 carried by the crank arm 4. It also has a curved edge 48 which isr engaged by `the pin 40 to raise this end of the lever 56 at the completion of the turning movement of arm 4. This movementv of lever 56 disengages the clutch.

vA shaft44 is turned through gears 43 from shaft 41, and at the front of the machine `mechanism shownv in Figure 5.

two locking recesses in bars 72.

whichy enters a slot 60 in a lever 6, pivoted at its lower end 65. The ratio of gears is two to one, so that the pin 46 makes only a half circleiswing at each operation of the clutch..

The upper end of lever 6 is used to reciproeatek the link-holding and assembling bar a. Tt is immediately connected with a p Its forked upper en'd 6l embraces a rod 62 upon which freely slide washers 63 and about which are the helical springs 64. .A bar 7 has ears 70 located outside springs 64, and through which the rod 62 freely passes. Bar 7 has a block 71 secured thereto and mounted'on guides 72. A locking dog 73 is norn'ially heldby the spring 74 in one or Block 7l has al transverse slot 7 7 into which enters the rib or flange 24 carried bythe swinging frame 3. A pin 76 will depress and disengage the locking dog 73 when depressed. by the flange 24. In this condition the block 7l is free to move upon its guide rods 7 5, and as the movement of the lever 6 has preceded the release of the block 71,'onc of the springs 64 is compressed and throws the bar 7 and the attached block 7l over to its other position, where the locking dog 73 engages the l other notch 75. In doing this it carries with it `the flange or lug 24 and the link-holding and assembling` bar 2. The reciprocation of the bar 2 occurs when it is released by action of the flange 24 upon the pin 76 and the locking dog 73, which is upon completion of the return movement of the bar-carrying frame, 3.

I have shown a series of spring lingers 8 carried by a cross bar 8O and by their free end pressing down upon the links 1l which have just been placed upon the wires. These serve to hold the wires down at their-.proper level and to prevent withdrawal of a link. These parts, and also the plate 81 which is beneath the links are mounted to yield backwardly hy the pressure of the linkeholding bar 2. Guide rods 82 are liXed to these parts and reciprocate in guides carried by the frame. Springs 83 return all these parts outwardly when pressure is removed therefrom.

I have found that the backward movement of the links 1l upon the pivot or pintlc rods 10 will be facilitated by giving these rods a sharp rap at their back ends at the time the link-placing bar 2 is being moved. back. I have therefore provided means for doing this, as follows: r

Journaled at the rear of the machine is a shaft 9 upon which are loosely mounted a number of hammer arms 92 corresponding the other of with the number of the rods l() 7upon which a spring arm 91 which are also connected with their respective hammer arms 92 to actuate them. y

Shaft 9 has an arm or arms 93 fixed thereto by which it may berocked to withdraw 96, thereby to swing the arm 93 when moved in one direction. The movement of rod 97 is enough to permit release ofthe finger, whereupon spring 94 causes a quick return of the hannners. A sharp blow of this characteris highly efficient in overcoming the frictional resistance between the wires l0 and the links, thus aiding the. backward movement 'of the links, particularly after the wires become nearly filled.

The reciprocation of rods 97 may be secured by various means.

which is a gear 100 actuated by engagement with the intermittently reciprocated chain lhat I claim as my invention is:

1. A means for placing links upon pintle wires comprising means for holding the wires with their ends in proper' spaced relation, a holder for a plurality of links securing a conforming endwise spacing thereof, and means for. moving said holder to simultaneously place said plurality ofv lengths upon said wires. n

2.V A means for placing links upon pintle wires comprising means for holding the wires with their ends in proper spaced relation, a holder for a plurality of links securing a conforming spacing thereof, and means for moving said holder to place the links held thereon upon said wires, and

means for lengthwise shifting said holder to' alternately'position the links of successive rows. n

3. A means for placing links upon pintle wires comprising means for holdingr the wires with their ends in proper spaced relation, a holder for a. plurality of links securing a conforming vspacing thereof, and

means for moving said holder to place the links held thereon upon said Wires, and

yielding presser members bearing upon the links last placed upon the wires.

4. A means for placing links upon wires to form a. mat comprising means for holding the wires with their ends properly spaced, a holder bar having a plurality of link receiving and positioning means and meansv for swinging said bar to place the links upon the wires.

That shown isA from an arm 99 carried by a shaft 102 on l5. A means for assembling vlinks upon wires to form a mat comprising means for holding 'the wires in properly spaced rela- 'i tion, a link positioning and transferring bar having link positioning and holding means and means Vfor swinging it about an axis laterally offset thereforin and means for lengthwise shifting said bar an amount corresponding with the pitch length of the links.

64A means for placing links upon wires to form a mat comprising means 'for holding the wires with their ends properly spaced, a holder bar having link receiving and positioning means, a frame upon which the vhold'- er bar is mounted for lengthwise movement,-

said frame being mounted to swing upon an axis laterally, offset from said bar, meansk for swinging said frame and means for reciprocating the holder bar lalternately in opposite directions.

7. A means for assembling links upon v wires to form a mat comprising means for holding the wires in properly positioned-relation, a holder bar having Ieans for positioning a row of links to conformwith that occupied in the, mat, means for advancing said holder har to place. itsl row of links upon the wires and to slide them along the wires.

8. A link-mat assemblino machine comprising means for holding tlie wires in properly spaced relation, a holder bar VLhaving means for holding a row of links in spaced relation corresponding with that ofv the wires, a frame upon which'the holder bar is pivotally supported by a laterally offset axis to swing towards and from the ends of the wires and for then swinging the main frameto thereby force the links backv upon the wires.

9. A link-inat assembling machine coniprising means for holding the wires in properly spaced relation, a holder bar having means for holding a row of links in spaced relation corresponding with that of the wires, a frame upon which the-holder bar is pivotally supported by a laterally offset axis to swing towards and from the ends of the wires to properly register the links with the receiving wires, and means for operating said parts containing a connecting member actingthrough the holder bar to first swing the said bar into position to presentthe links forv first swinging to the wires and thento swing the frame to thereby force the links upon the-wires. l

lOQA link mat assembing machine comprising means for holding the link-connecting wires in proper spaced relation, a holder bar for the links, two frames upon one of towards the receiving ends oi' the connecting Wires, and actuating means connected to th holding bar trame and acting to lirst swing said frame to present links placed thereon to Vthe wires and then to swing hoth the frames lto advance the links uponlthe wires.

' is mounted for Vlengthwise recipiocation, a

second i"rame`mouiited 'for reciprocation to- Y ward and irom the link-connecting wires and upon which the first frame is pivoted to similarly swing, i sans connected with the first traine to swing both trames in succession toward and from the wires, and

meansy for lengthwise ymovement ot the link-holding bar a link lengtliaiiter each swinging movement thereof, said movements being alternately in opposite direction.

12; ln a link-mat assembling machine, a

link holding and placing :bar provided with means 'for holding a row oiilinrs in end-toend relation and in proper spacing for insertion upon the connecting wires, and means for moving said bar to thread vthe links upon said wires.

123. In a link-inat-assembling machine, a link holding and placing bar provided with means for holding a row oiE links in proper spacing 'for insertion upon the connecting wires, and means 'for moving said bar to thread the links upon said wires, and means for lengthwise shifting said bar one-linklength and alternately in opposite directions between the placing of each row of links upon the wires.

1l. ln-a link-mat assembling machine, a bai' having recesses tor receiving and positioning a row of links and holes for passing the link-holding wires of a mat, and means for moving said bar to place the links upon the wires.

15. ln a link-mat assembling machine, means for holding the link-connecting wires of the mat, a link assembling bar, a holder for said bar mounted to swing towards and .from the ends of the said wires and to permit lengthwise reciprocation of the bar thereon, locking means normally holding said bar against reciprocation, means for oscillating the holder for said bar means 'for reci arocatino said bar in its holder and 2D 7 means for releasing the bar reciprocating means at and by the return movement of the bar holder. .Y

16. In` a link-mat assembling machine, means for holding the link-connecting'wires or the mat, a link assembling bar, a holder lfor said bar mounted to swing towards and l'rom the ends of the said wires and to permit lengthwise Vreciprocation of the bar thereon, and means for. reciprocating said .bar at the end oithe swinging movement of the holder.

17. rllhe methodrofL forming a linkmat which consists in Asecuring the pintle rods in properly Aspaced. relation, assembling a row oit links in proper end-to-end relation andV applying Va single row of links to the rods at a time. p

18. The method ot forming a link mat which consists in securing the pintle rods iii properly spaced relation, assembling a Vrow of links iii proper relation and applying a single row oit links tothe rods ata time, successive rows of links being lengthvwise oiiset by an amount equal to the pitch length ot the links.

19. The method of it'orining la link mat vhich consists in securing the pintleA rods :in properly spaced relation, assembling a row otlinks in proper relation and applysenting and placing the links upon said wires, hammers pivoted to engage the hack ends oi' said wires when swung, and means i'oi' so swinging the hammers to rap `the 'wires at the time of placing the links upon p the wires.

22. In a link mat assembling machine, means for holding the threading wires in properly spaced relation, means for presenting and placing the links upon said wires, a series of hammers` pivoted tobe swung into engagement with the back ends ofthe wires, springs acting to normally urge the hammers towards saidA wires, and meansv acting to withdraw the hammers and to release them to strike the wires at the time ot placing the links thereon. Y

Signed at Seattle, lVashington this day of January, 1928.

HAROLD lV. HOLLENBECK. 

